Mother Nature Is Not Out To Get You By ROBERT M. THORSON Robert M. Thorson is a professor of geology at the University of Connecticut and a member of The Courant's Place board of contributors. His column appears every Thursday. He can be reached at profthorson@hotmail.com.

A La Carte By JOHN AVIGNONE; Special To The Courant John Avignone is a free-lance writer in Hartford. Send restaurant news at least 10 days before publication by calling John Avignone at 860-233-7911, e-mail CourantALaCarte@aol.com, fax 860-520- 6927, or mail to Flavor, care of The Courant, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115.